SA weather: Native flowers blooming across state for first day of spring

Spring has sprung and the native flowers are blooming. But the balmy weather isn’t set to last, with a cool change arriving on Thursday.

Three year-old Chelsea McPhail amongst the sturt desert pea blossoms near Roxby Downs in South Australia. Picture: Megan McPhail

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As the first day of spring hits, Grace McPhail, 3, is revelling in the balmy weather and the native flowers blooming around her Roxby Downs home.

Grace’s mother Megan McPhail said the native Sturt desert peas are common in and around Roxby Downs.

“Grace loves them; she calls them her peanuts,” Ms McPhail said.

She and her husband Brodie, with Grace and their younger daughter,
10-month-old Claire, go for walks around the area frequently when the flowers are blooming.

“We have a lot of areas in Roxby, in town on the outskirts (with the flowers) … they’re absolutely everywhere.”

Sturt’s desert pea between Woomera and Roxby Downs. Picture: Barb Fromm

The National Parks and Wildlife Service of South Australia last week announced native wildflowers were blooming across the Yorke Peninsula, just in time for spring.

Innes National Park Ranger Aaron Smith said the rainfall and cold temperatures over winter proved ideal for growing flowers.

“From the entrance of Innes National Park right across the bottom of Yorke Peninsula, we’re now seeing the most magnificent display of wildflowers,” Mr Smith said.

The park has 333 species of native plants, and more than 100 of those cannot be seen anywhere else on the Yorke Peninsula. Common natives in full bloom include templetonia, coastal bearded heath and fringe myrtle.

Today is forecast to be mostly sunny with a top of 20C, while Wednesday should be warm and slightly cloudy with a maximum of 19C.

On Thursday, the temperature is set to drop to 17C with a high chance of rain, Friday should be 16C and also likely to be wet, and Saturday is due to be 17C with a medium chance of showers. But it’s back to spring on Sunday with a sunny 21C expected.

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